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A world capital for entertainment, beach-going and tourism, Los Angeles and Orange Counties in California offer attractions like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Venice Beach and Venice Beach. Five-star hotels are convenient to many of the area attractions, though you'll need a car. Your concierge can take care of renting it and have it parked via valet when you return to your suite.

Beverly Hills

A city synonymous with wealth and luxury, Beverly Hills boasts several five-star properties. At the Peninsula Beverly Hills (peninsula.com), lush tropical gardens frame what looks like a private, Renaissance-style mansion in the heart of downtown Beverly Hills. Each of the 16 detached garden villas has its own private entrance. The Beverly Hilton hosts annual events such as the Golden Globe Awards and the Oscar Nominee Luncheon. Their penthouse collection offers vistas of Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards from furnished patios, and high-tech amenities such as two 42-inch plasma TVs.

Hollywood/West Hollywood

Popular with tourists and hipsters, Hollywood hosts such famous events as the Academy Awards, while West Hollywood sets trends with numerous clothing boutiques, dance clubs and design shops. Recalling a French country manor, the Chateau Marmont (chateaumarmont.com) has guarded its hillside location since the 1930s. The 63 rooms, cottages and bungalows feature soundproofing and antiques, with some having full kitchens, formal dining rooms and private terraces. The all-suite London West Hollywood features modern glam with open-floor plan rooms designed by the David Collins Studio, dining by Gordon Ramsay and salon services by Alex Roldan. At the Andaz West Hollywood (westhollywood.andaz.hyatt.com), a personal host checks you in and acts as your concierge. All rooms have sun-rooms, with floor-to-ceiling windows that show off the Sunset Strip.

Other Los Angeles Hotels

If you have kids and pets, head for the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel (loewshotels.com), which pampers both groups with special amenities and clubs. Otherwise, you can step out onto the beach or have them charter a boat for you from nearby Marina del Rey. The Altitude Pool is the hot spot at the SLS Hotel since it has views of Los Angeles, seven private cabanas with mini-bars and TVs, and valets to cater to your whims. At the Hotel Bel Air, all rooms have private entrances from the gardens and fountain courtyards, as well as fireplaces and private outdoor spas on tiled patios.

Orange County

In Orange County, the five-star beach resorts are self-contained worlds of relaxation with spas, sport courts and direct ocean access. The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel (ritzcarlton.com) sports private patios and balconies from most room for ocean views off a 150-foot bluff. A "Conde Nast" and "Travel & Leisure" award winner, the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort (stregismb.com) delights with Tuscan architecture, a private beach and an on-site 18-hole championship golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones II. The Montage Resort and Spa celebrates arts and crafts style with art, furniture and architecture from the period, and the accommodation is a short walk from the Laguna Beach arts colony.

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About the Author

Aurelio Locsin has been writing professionally since 1982. He published his first book in 1996 and is a frequent contributor to many online publications, specializing in consumer, business and technical topics. Locsin holds a Bachelor of Arts in scientific and technical communications from the University of Washington.

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